In my view, the question as to whether or not you use your real name as a blogger depends largely upon the objectives of your blog. This, in turn, points to the importance of clarifying your objectives at the outset.

If you are going to be writing about topics which are not too personal (like animals, software development or the dairy industry just to give a few examples), then use of your real name does not inhibit your capacity for freedom of expression to any significant extent and I would see no good reason not to use your real identity.

If, on the other hand, your writing is more personal, then use of your own identity does place limitations upon what you may feel comfortable in sharing. In such cases, I feel that a separate identity may be warranted.

true andrew, but most people, myself included, just jump right into blogging and don’t think about that.

Andrew´s last blog post..Should nightclubs pay for cops?

i understand. blogging under your real name can keep you in check. having it both ways works well for me.

Maureen´s last blog post..Losing It

Second thing to consider is your post-blog life. Meaning that once you’re done blogging, you’re going to be looking to do something else. At that time, do you want your blog posts to come back and bite your new career before it begins? Or maybe the kind of blogging you do will actually be counted as experience for the job you want. So… You might also think whether you have anything else planned for your future. And if so, is your blog going to help or hurt that effort?

great comment. thanks. i doubt i will EVER reveal myself on one of my blogs, maybe the other one down the line, but i don’t feel the need. i’m me, here. it’s hard to think about the impact of what we do now and now that will influence our future, but it does.

When they get to be teens, they aren’t so young and cute.

But mostly, I blog anonymously because they are old enough to use a computer. And so are their friends. While I never say anything that I wouldn’t allow them to read (they know they’re annoying!), I really don’t want them to have to take crap from their friends about it.

Pretty much the same reason that I don’t link my facebook page to their facebook pages. Mommy-shame applies.

i know. maybe they don’t think they’ll be in the game that long and will delete their blog or the post will be so buried, no one will even bother to look. i wouldn’t want my mother linked to my facebook page..i don’t even know if she is welcomed on this blog. lol. she’s mommy first – don’t lurk around like a friend. shudders.

The Mother´s last blog post..The Rules Don’t Apply to Her!

For this young lady, she could post under a pseudonym and say that what she writes is fiction. You don’t need trust for fiction, people just like a good story.

I have three blogs – 2 niche blogs and 1 whatever blog. I write all three under my real name. On my “whatever” blog, I’m not completely transparent but I may be after I retire

Glad I found you again, I enjoy reading your blog.

hi valerie. we share the same name. whooo hoo. i like blogging under my real name and under a pseudo. on the anon blog, i don’t want anything. i don’t care about subscribes, comments, rank, post schedule. it’s just me and my blog.

thanks for finding me again, valerie.

Valerie´s last blog post..Our Vet Gives Better Customer Service Than Our Doctor

Looking forward to your next post.

hey thanks jannie. it’s in my head somewhere, i’m just relaxing, so maybe i’ll do something funny next.

Jannie Funster´s last blog post..Bristles on a stick

i agree urban. i have never wondered about your name until now. barry. or harry or dexter.

Urban Thought´s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Circular Rainbow

Of course your blog is going to be different if you’re blogging under a pseudonym! An anonymous blog can be anything you want it to be because it doesn’t affect YOUR personal reputation.

Again it all comes back to WHY you’re blogging. If your name wasn’t “attached” to this blog – I’m not sure I’d give it the “credibility” I do because it’s fiercely attached to YOUR name.

well that’s the thing. anybody can give you a name. we have no real way of checking and who would go through the trouble? i give anon bloggers just as much cred because they have nothing to hide, but themselves. the truth flows freely.

Kathy | Virtual Impax´s last blog post..Social Media is Simply Communication on Steroids

And I’m with Barbara – I usually think of you as Natural rather than Valerie.

well i’m sure none of us write to purposely offend, but it happens. people get mad and want to attack you. could get ugly. it’s nice to have a little something on the side, a blog that is, just for YOU.